There’s something inherently dramatic about lighthouses, you can often get some of the most spectacular views from (or even in!) a lighthouse that stands on the edge of crashing waves.
With over 5,500 kilometres of coastline, it’s no wonder that Western Australia boasts a collection of iconic lighthouses that light the way along it’s edge.
From the tropical waters around Broome all the way to the rugged Southern Ocean coastline, some are awe-inspiring towers you can climb, others function as important working lights, and a few are now just remnants of WA’s maritime history.
If you’re planning a road trip in WA, why not make a lighthouse hunt part of the journey? Here’s the Summerstar list of iconic lighthouses of Western Australia.
Gantheaume Point Lighthouse is a must-see when visiting Broome.
Starting right at the top in the north of Western Australia, head down the southern end of Cable Beach, where you’ll find the Gantheaume Point lighthouse.
The lighthouse was established in 1905 after intense lobbying from local traders and pearling masters in Broome. It was followed by several replacement towers, with the current stainless-steel lattice tower erected in 1983.
Today, the lighthouse is part of the wider Gantheaume Point experience, where visitors can also explore the dramatic coastline and look for dinosaur footprints preserved in the reef rock.
Top tip: Stay for the epic sunset at Gantheaume Point.
Absolutely spectacular views from Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. Image: Janice Platt
High above the Ningaloo Coast, Vlamingh Head Lighthouse is one of the most spectacularly positioned lighthouse in WA.
Located near Exmouth, the lighthouse overlooks the Indian Ocean and Ningaloo Reef, making it an ideal stop while exploring Cape Range National Park.
The lighthouse was established to help ships navigate the waters around North West Cape, and today the site is particularly popular for its panoramic views. On a clear day, you can look across an enormous stretch of coastline.
For travellers heading north, this is one lighthouse that feels less like a historical attraction and more like a front-row seat to the Ningaloo Coast.
One of the best places to stargaze, the Point Quobba Lighthouse stands tall against the sky in Carnarvon. Image: Shire of Carnarvon.
About 75 kilometres north-west of Carnarvon stands Point Quobba Lighthouse, constructed in 1950 and was designed as an automatic light.
The area is also famous for the quobba blowholes and rugged coastline and is home to one of WA’s more interesting lighthouses.
The lighthouse’s lantern and staircase were reused from the former Point Cloates lighthouse, while the original lens came from Cape Wickham in Tasmania!
Point Moore Lighthouse is a familiar and iconic landmark in Geraldton. Image: Summerstar Tourist Parks.
If you’re staying at Geraldton Belair Gardens Caravan Park, you can’t miss Point Moore Lighthouse when you take the drive in.
With its distinctive red-and-white striped tower rising above the Indian Ocean, it has become one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.
The lighthouse was first exhibited in 1878 and was constructed from prefabricated steel sections made by Chance Brothers in Birmingham, England. The sections were shipped to Australia and assembled on site.
The original foundations were actually laid in the wrong location before the lighthouse was moved to its present position. Today, the 34-metre tower stands as an impressive reminder of Geraldton’s maritime history.
Don't miss: Head down to the coast around sunset and see the lighthouse against the Indian Ocean.
Few WA lighthouses have a more iconic setting than Wadjemup Lighthouse. The iconic lighthouse dominates the centre of Rottnest Island and provides spectacular views across the island and surrounding ocean.
The original lighthouse was completed in 1849 and was the first stone lighthouse built in Western Australia before a much larger replacement was constructed on the same site in 1896.
Today, the lighthouse is one of Rottnest Island's best-known landmarks and can be reached by bike, bus or on foot.
Combine your lighthouse visit with everything else Rottnest has to offer – beaches, snorkelling, cycling and plenty of quokkas.
Don't miss: Take the time to climb the lighthouse and enjoy the views from the top.
The Casuarina Point Lighthouse in Bunbury is a working lighthouse. Image: Australia's South West.
Bunbury has had several lighthouses over the years but the current Casuarina Point Lighthouse is especially distinctive with it’s iconic black-and-white chequered pattern.
The original Bunbury lighthouse started out as a small wooden tower before a permanent cast-iron lighthouse was built in 1903. This lighthouse was later raised up because fuel tanks were obstructing its visibility!
The black and white current tower was built in 1970 and incorporates part of the original lantern.
The lighthouse itself isn't open to the public as it is still a working lighthouse, but the nearby Marlston Hill lookout provides a good vantage point.
Where to stay: Stay at Bunbury Apartment Motel to explore Bunbury's waterfront, then head towards Marlston Hill for views of the lighthouse and coast.
Climb up into the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse near Busselton for epic views of the surrounding region. Image: Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association.
Perched on a 100-metre-high bluff at the northern end of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse has one of the most beautiful settings in the South West.
The 20-metre-high lighthouse was built in 1903 using limestone transported by bullock wagon from a quarry about 1.5 kilometres away.
Unlike many of WA's coastal lights, visitors can tour the lighthouse and explore the Lightkeepers' Museum.
A great starting point for exploring the region, the surrounding Cape Naturaliste coastline and walking trails make up some of the most beautiful landscapes in the South West.
Did you know: The original lightkeepers' quarters are still standing!
Tip: Stay at Busselton Lazy Days Caravan Park when exploring the Cape Naturaliste region for a warm and comfortable base!
Climb to the top of Australia's tallest lighthouse, the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Augusta. Image: Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association.
At the very bottom of the Margaret River region, where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean, stands one of the state's most famous landmarks.
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse was built in 1895 and is known to be Australia's tallest lighthouse. Together with Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, it forms part of the historic lighthouse story of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste region.
The remote location was once home to lighthouse keepers and their families, and the surviving cottages offer a fascinating glimpse into life at an isolated coastal station.
Today, you can climb the lighthouse and look out across the meeting point of two oceans.
Tip: Margaret River Tourist Park and Riverview Tourist Park are great options to base yourself when exploring the wider Margaret River Region (lighthouses and caves included!)
Point King Lighthouse: Sitting at the entrance to Princess Royal Harbour, this lighthouse was established in 1858 and is one of the oldest lighthouses in Western Australia.
Its relatively small scale is a reminder that lighthouse design was often dictated by the landscape and the specific navigational challenge it was built to solve.
Cave Point Lighthouse: South of Albany, Cave Point has a very different story to tell.
The lighthouse was built in 1976 and only operated for 18 years. It was established when the lighthouse on Eclipse Island was automated and de-manned, but the new light was found to be partially obscured by Eclipse Island and was discontinued in 1994.
Breaksea Island Lighthouse: Based at the entrance to King George Sound, the first tower on Breaksea Island was commenced in May 1857.
The 13.1m high octagonal cast-iron tower was imported from England and assembled on Breaksea Island at the entrance to King George’s Sound by convicts in 1858.
Don't miss: Combine the lighthouses with a visit to Albany's historic waterfront and the National ANZAC Centre.
Okay, technically we've crossed the border into South Australia, but if you're following the coast from Western Australia into South Australia, we couldn't resist including one final coastal light in Ceduna on the list.
Pinky Point sits at Thevenard, near Ceduna, overlooking Murat Bay and the working port. Today, Pinky Point is best known as a lookout, with sweeping views across the bay and the busy port and is also the starting point for the Encounter Trail, which follows the coastline towards Ceduna.
The great thing about WA's lighthouses is that they aren't just standalone attractions. They're scattered across some of the state's most spectacular coastal destinations.
From tropical Broome to the rugged cliffs of Albany and across to Ceduna in South Australia, a lighthouse road trip is a pretty great way to see WA from a different perspective.
Maybe it’s the history. Maybe it’s the dramatic coastal setting, complete with crashing waves and big open skies. Or perhaps it’s the thought of all the ships that once relied on a small beam of light to find their way safely along one of Australia’s wildest coastlines.
These towers and lights tell stories of shipwrecks, pearling, trade, early settlement, isolation and technological change. More importantly, they take you to some truly spectacular corners of the coast.
With 17 parks dotted along the coastline of South and Western Australia, it’s a pretty safe bet there is a Summerstar park nearby when you’re on the hunt for the most iconic lighthouses in the state.
